Brainstorm

 

Friends, President Trump is very, very smart!  He tells us so on a regular basis.  Whether the men advising him are similarly bright is an open question.  It took the President's national security team a surprisingly long time to figure out that, if Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz, with its navy at the bottom of the sea, then we, with the world's biggest navy by far, could do so too!  And no country is more dependent on maritime trade passing through the Strait than...Iran!!!  That's what we call "checkmate" in strategic terms.  In other words, we can obliterate the Iranian economy any time we like.  Maybe that time should have been back when this conflict began.  Be that as it may, we're blockading Iran now, and I'm optimistic that this will force the Islamists to talk turkey, at long last.  I mean, for the U.S. of A., mounting a blockade is a piece of cake.  We can do this stuff all day long for as many days as it takes.  The best part is that, not only have we exposed Iran as a paper tiger, but we've done the same for every country in the world, including our erstwhile allies in Europe.  Simply put, the world runs on maritime trade, and WE RULE THE WAVES!!!  Get it, Trump haters???

 

https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2026/04/16/three-u-s-carrier-groups-two-marine-assault-ships-and-ten-destroyers-blockade-iran/ 

 

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/trumps-blockade-breaking-iran-and-european-elites-are-angry 

 

In other news, babies are smelly and obnoxious.  This helps to explain why so few people are having them these days, but, as I've been saying for years, there's a lot more to it.  People invest their time and energy in whatever they believe truly matters, and our messed up egotistical culture, such as it is, does not value parenthood.  Until we fix that problem, the decline and fall of human fertility will be the story of the century, the millenium, and quite possibly the punchline in the epitaph of homo sapiens, when the time comes.

 

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/in_focus/4527119/fertility-crisis-cultural-problem/ 

Divine Intervention

 

Friends, President Trump has been prevailed upon to delete his reposting of this image of himself as, some say, a "Jesus-like figure".  Is all the outrage justified?  I leave it to you to decide.  The bigger question is: does DJT have magical healing powers, which may or may not be angelic or demonic?  The verdict is out...

 

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/13/trump-denies-deleted-truth-post-showed-him-as-jesus-blames-fake-news/ 

 

In other news, Eric Swalwell, who just days ago was a darling of the Left and perhaps the odds-on favorite to be the next Governor of California, is today a private citizen, after he resigned his seat in Congress.  And, as he points out, all that was accomplished by mere accusations, and certainly not with actual criminal charges, let alone convictions.  Welcome to the Democratic Party, Eric!

 

https://x.com/RepSwalwell/status/2043802702971359521 

 

In case you haven't heard, conservative hero Viktor Orban has been defeated in his reelection bid in Hungary.  He served as the country's Prime Minister for 16 years, and he received fulsome praise and meaningful support from DJT and Vice-President Vance.  Well, his ouster is a pity, ideologically speaking, but 16 years is a good run, and even a spotless right-wing pedigree doesn't mean that Orban was a perfect leader.  Clearly, his party succumbed to complacency and corruption, to a degree.  Farewell, Viktor!  Welcome to the party, Peter (Magyar)!

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/hungarians-vote-landmark-election-closely-230426178.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall 

 

Lastly, our blockade against the maritime commerce of Iran is now in effect, and presumably the Iranian economy, which was already teetering, will crater in short order.  Will the mullahs care?  There's no guarantee of that, but their customers surely will, notably China and India.  The other big question, while we close the Strait to Iran, is whether we will be successful in opening it for everyone else.  If we do succeed in that, it would appear that Iran has no more cards to play, except suicidal obstinacy, which is always an option!

 

https://www.nbcnews.com/world/iran/trump-iran-blockade-strait-of-hormuz-ports-explained-rcna331477 

No Deal!

 

Friends, DJT has spoken!  The U.S. will close the Strait of Hormuz until such time as it can be opened free of Iran's malign influence, i.e. toll-free.  Bravo!  This is exactly what should happen.  The Strait right now is a psychological and financial lifeline for the Iranian leadership.  That must end.  Perhaps if it does the mullahs will draw the appropriate conclusions and accede to our demands?  Hey, miracles happen...

 

https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2026/04/12/we-are-fully-locked-and-loaded-president-trump-u-s-navy-blockades-strait-of-hormuz/ 

 

In other news, California Congressman and leftist darling Eric Swalwell is reeling from multiple allegations of sexual assault, which just happen to coincide with his run for Governor of the Golden State.  Gee, it seems like we might have seen this playbook before?  Establishment Democrats seem happy to go along with these smears, in any case.  It sure is fascinating how the political calculus of the Left's moral outrage works, i.e. who gets shielded from all charges, and who is automatically presumed guilty of anything and everything.  These people live in a fact-free ethical ecosystem that will always baffle the likes of you and me.

 

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/11/manhattan-district-attorneys-office-investigating-rep-eric-swalwell-over-sexual-assault-accusations/ 

Welcome Home!

 

Friends, NASA's Artemis II mission is now over, and it was a complete success, which is welcome news for the space agency and the nation!  Oh, and homo sapiens in general.  President Trump has framed this as a triumph for the good ole USA, which naturally it is, but, more importantly, it's going to propel all of humanity back to the Moon, and onward to the whole galaxy, after an unforgivably long pause that's lasted my entire lifetime.  Better late than never, I say!

 

https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/science/live-news/artemis-2-splashdown-astronauts-return 

 

https://www.breitbart.com/news/artemis-ii-crew-caps-historic-lunar-flyby-with-call-from-trump/ 

 

In other news, Vice-President Vance will be leading the U.S. negotiating team in Islamabad, which will try to reach an understanding with the Islamist regime in Iran.  It ain't gonna be easy!  Many points of disagreement still exist.  Whatever peace we cobble together, friends, it will be a very poor substitute for regime change, which is still my long-term goal for the Persian people.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2wyn8wdz0o 

 

Finally, who cares about world peace, or the lack thereof, when our nation's capital grows more opulent and glamorous by the day?  Not only will we soon have a fancy new ballroom next to the White House, but plans are afoot to add a triumphal arch that will make Paris's Arc de Triomphe look like a sad pile of rocks!

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-officials-unveil-designs-for-president-s-controversial-250-foot-arch/ar-AA20BP8g 

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