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Saturday, April 18, 2026

Back on Track

 


Friends, whatever calamities may befall us, it would be nice to know that we have the biggest, most opulent ballroom in the universe attached to our president's residence, would it not?  I should say so!  Thanks to the U.S. Court of Appeals in the District of Columbia, we're a little bit closer to achieving that goal.  They've allowed construction on the ballroom to recommence, subbing leftist Judge Richard Leon.  Ha!  Take that!!!

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyx9xyy0j9o 

 

In other news, the Strait of Hormuz is now closed again, after the Iranians (and Trump) had declared it open only yesterday.  Apparently the Iranians only eased up on their piracy in expectation that the U.S. blockade would be lifted.  Not so fast!  What now?  More haggling, I should think.  The Dems will be pleased, as Senator Fetterman noted only recently, because they love it when the bad guys show up Trump...  If the whole world burns in the process, that's just a minor inconvenience.  Of course, the whole world won't burn, because we're still the ones holding most of the cards.

 

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2026/04/18/trump-says-iran-cant-blackmail-united-states-after-ships-come-under-fire-in-strait-of-hormuz/ 

 

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2026/04/18/fetterman-its-like-media-dems-were-gleeful-when-iran-took-the-strait/ 

Friday, April 17, 2026

The Art of the (Almost Finished!) Deal

 


Friends, President Trump is sounding extremely optimistic that the Iranians are about to give us everything we want out of a deal: an open Strait of Hormuz, all the "nuclear dust" they can muster, a commitment not to enrich any more uranium, and more!  Some voices in Iran are saying "hold your horses, Mister!"  Well, they're saying it in a less idiomatic way, and in Farsi, but you get the idea.  We could be on the cusp on ending this conflict and lastingly containing the Islamic Republic of Iran...or we could be on the cusp of Iran backpedaling, and the conflict reigniting.  Nothing would surprise me, at this stage!

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/how-two-ceasefires-and-opening-of-hormuz-could-boost-iran-talks/ar-AA2184Jv 

 

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/04/17/trump-iran-deal-expected-in-the-next-day-or-two-might-travel-to-islamabad-for-final-talks/ 

 

In other news, President Trump is talking about a potential game changer in 2026: the retirement of one or more of the conservative justices on the Supreme Court.  This could dramatically raise the stakes for the midterm elections, since a Republican Senate would be essential to ensuring that Trump could replace Alito and/or Thomas with a likeminded right-winger.  In turn, making the high court a central issue in the midterms could boost Republican turnout, which otherwise isn't looking all that robust, if special elections are any indication.  It's all food for thought!

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/trump-leans-in-on-a-major-2026-issue-possibly-replacing-justices-alito-and-thomas/ar-AA211nM3 

 

Finally, I've mentioned it before, but there is something of a school choice revolution going in America, and ground zero is the Sunshine State.  Florida is making it possible for parents to design a curriculum around their kids' needs, and to send their kids anywhere they please to learn, or indeed nowhere, since homeschooling is very much in the picture.  This flexibility is a model for how a publicly-supported K-12 education system ought to operate.  Red states, take note!!!

 

https://www.city-journal.org/article/florida-school-choice-education?skip=1 

Thursday, April 16, 2026

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/ 

Monday, April 13, 2026

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 

Sunday, April 12, 2026

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/ 

Friday, April 10, 2026

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 

Thursday, April 9, 2026

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/ 

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

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 

Monday, April 6, 2026

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 

Sunday, April 5, 2026

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 

Saturday, April 4, 2026

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/ 

Thursday, April 2, 2026

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 

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

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 

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

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 

Sunday, March 29, 2026

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 

Friday, March 27, 2026

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 

Gloomy Gus

 


Friends, don't get me wrong: DJT is always a ray of sunshine, but I, on the other hand, sometimes get despondent about our country's future, especially when I consider the political resilience of the Democrats, who ought to have been consigned to the dustbin of history a long, long time ago.  Well, they haven't been.  In fact, they're prospering, thanks to the, uhh, resilence of TDS!  And that's the subject of my latest article.

 

Democrats Think They're Winning – and, Sadly, They're Right!


There's no question that the ongoing U.S./Israeli campaign against Iran has opened some fissures in the conservative/MAGA movement, and that in itself is something to concern those who wish President Trump well, but a more troubling and possibly long-lasting realignment is happening concurrently: leftists and Democrats are reviving, despite the fact that we left them for dead in the wake of the 2024 election. Their squabbles are long forgotten, as the Trump haters find common purpose in – what else? – hating Trump.

Witness, first of all, the steady drumbeat of anti-Trump coverage in the mainstream media and on social media, exemplified in uniquely horrifying fashion by the tendency of the talking heads to root openly for Iran in the present conflict, and to portray the noble efforts of President Trump and the U.S. military to bring down the mullahs as aggression, inhumanity, and pure stupidity. Whether this incessant calumny has any relationship to the facts or not, it is having a cumulative effect: Trump's approval ratings are drifting down, and the Democrats' advantage in generic ballot polls is gradually increasing. A point here and a point there may not seem like much, and the President's base remains broadly enthusiastic, but no one can question that Trump and Republicans are in a steadily weakening political position. The Left's lies, including its damned lies, are having an effect.

Second, it's getting increasingly hard to ignore the trend in special elections, which is almost uniformly favorable to Democrats, and not in a subtle way. Democrats routinely outperform the results they obtained in 2024 in these special elections by 15 or 20 points. That's a lot! Republicans even lost in Trump's “backyard”, as the Dems love to point out, in a race for a Florida House seat in an area that includes Mar-a-Lago. Ouch! Meanwhile, Republican-held state legislative seats in Texas, Iowa, Mississippi, Georgia, New Hampshire, and elsewhere have turned blue, and emphatically so. The Democrats think the momentum is on their side, and there's very little evidence in the results of these special elections to contradict them.

Lastly, money makes the world go 'round, and politics even more so. The Democrats and leftists aren't just taking to the streets in their millions, shaking their fists at “King Trump” – they're also putting their money where their big, obnoxious mouths are. Contributions are pouring into special election campaigns and into the coffers of liberal candidates running in the midterms. The Democrats have become, lest anyone forget, the party of the well-heeled, and they are, as a result, tapping into an almost inexhaustible reservoir of financial support. They have massively outspent us in most recent election cycles, and they may well do so again in 2026, especially when dark money is factored in.

It is worth remembering that President Trump and Republicans face these severe headwinds despite the fact that the U.S. economy is basically sound, inflation low, and the markets buoyant. What would happen if, say, the market tanked, or unemployment rose, or inflation heated up? How hard would it be to revive GOP fortunes then? An economic slowdown, moreover, is looking increasingly possible, according to economists.

The solutions to these challenges are by no means apparent, but one thing is for sure: the Democrats and leftists cannot be written off as perennial losers, and they cannot be depended on to sink their own ship. On the contrary, we should recognize that President Trump's victory in 2024 came despite the inherent and broad-based strength of the Democratic Party and the Left, with all their ingrained advantages and prodigious institutional and popular support. To hold on to the House of Representatives in November (not to mention the Senate, which is looking increasingly shaky), it will take wise decisions from the President and his top lieutenants, as well as a maximum effort from Republicans, conservatives, and the MAGA movement. Even then, we may fall short.

That's just the sad, unvarnished truth.


Dr. Nicholas L. Waddy is a history professor at SUNY Alfred and blogs at: www.waddyisright.com. He appears on the Newsmakers show on WLEA/WYSL.

 

And here it is at World Net Daily:

 

https://www.wnd.com/2026/03/democrats-think-theyre-winning-sadly-theyre-right/  

 

***

 

In other news, Senate Republicans are considering the use of another reconciliation bill to get the DHS funded, possibly pass a version of the SAVE Act, and otherwise advance the GOP agenda.  I think this is an excellent idea, as getting the dastardly Dems to support anything common sensical, or even vaguely sensical, is a lost cause.  Reconciliation bills only require a simple majority.  I say: get on with it!

 

https://rollcall.com/2026/03/24/in-the-senate-thune-resurrects-idea-of-reconciliation/ 

 

Finally, in a first for any U.S. president, Donald Trump's signature will soon be appearing on our paper money!  Wow.  Perhaps Trump believes this will cause all Americans to think of him with reverence and gratitude every time they spend money.  Fat chance of that!  Still, I have no problem with Trump's signature, likeness, or shoe size appearing on U.S. dollars, and we might also consider appending a short message mocking the Democrats on every bill too.  Why the heck not???

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz0el909yp3o 

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Sue Their (Digital) Pants Off?

 


Friends, while I've not been among the biggest fans of social media empires like Meta and Google, I find today's ruling by a jury in Los Angeles troubling.  It found Instagram and YouTube liable for a young woman's mental illness, on the theory that the addictive nature of social media platforms is psychologically damaging.  Well, no doubt that's true, but the addictive nature of almost anything, from booze to BMWs to badminton to banana bread, can be damaging, if one indulges too much.  If you ask me, anyone who uses social media excessively has done injury to themselves, and personal responsibility ought to be the operative principle here, not entitlement and self-pity.  I suppose reasonable people might disagree about these matters, but consider this: if this ruling stands, it will be lawyers and judges who decide what the permissible parameters of social media will be, and do we really want THAT???

 

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2026/03/25/jury-finds-meta-and-google-negligent-in-landmark-social-media-addiction-trial/ 

 

In other news, the UN has voted to name the transatlantic slave trade as "the gravest crime against humanity".  A very timely decision, no?  I mean, otherwise, the slave trade could restart any day now!  Of course, the motivation for this ridiculous decision, which I'm happy to say that the United States opposed, was to justify open-ended reparations.  Luckily, resolutions passed by the UN General Assembly have no practical effect.  I must say, the sheer cheek in naming any one atrocity "the gravest" of all time is impressive.  As I understand it, the Afro-Middle Eastern slave trade actually took more lives, but who has even heard of it???  What an unseemly spectacle these efforts to monetize historical grievances are.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg06q36052o 

 

According to President Trump, Iran is about ready to pull a Venezuela and give us everything we want.  Well, I'll believe it when I see it...  The truth may be that, at this stage, no one is in firm control of Iran, and concessions granted by some could easily be undermined by others.  That is to say, our destabilization of the country may make a clean resolution to the present conflict difficult to achieve.  Always be careful what you wish for!

 

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/03/24/trump_new_leaders_of_iran_are_gonna_make_a_deal_they_gave_us_a_present_--_a_very_significant_prize.html 

 

Finally, those of us who support President Trump's efforts to facilitate regime change in Iran are understandably frustrated by the pro-Iranian propaganda that fills the mainstream media to overflowing.  Be that as it may, you can't deny that the Trump haters have had a certain measure of success in convincing the public that this operation has been a failure and that it endangers American lives, and the global economy, needlessly.  Trump's approval numbers have ticked down, and in fact they've been falling (gracefully) more or less since the outset of his second term.  This trend naturally does not reflect the quality of his leadership or the objective reality of political and economic conditions, so much as the accumulated weight of anti-Trump narratives in the media and social media.  We conservatives have utterly failed to intimidate our enemies, and we have also utterly failed to transform the media and social media landscape, by hook or by crook.  In short, we've left a giant machine in operation that wants nothing more (and nothing less) than to convince as many people as possible to hate, hate, hate Donald Trump all day, every day.  It's working, albeit not as much as the Left would like.  If we're not very careful, therefore, the second Trump Administration will follow much the same arc as the first, and the strains imposed by unpopularity will create something of a doom loop from which Trump and his top lieutenants will find it hard to escape.  I know this is a depressing way to look at it, and I would like nothing more than to be proven wrong, but this is where prevailing trends seem to be taking us, in my estimation.  And this, I hasten to add, is all within the context of an economy that is generally strong.  If the economy goes south, things get even bleaker!

 

https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/approval/donald-trump/approval-rating 

Monday, March 23, 2026

Victory is Nigh?

 


Friends, it's not easy to make sense of all the mixed signals coming out of the White House, but it appears that Trump and Co. are talking to...someone in Iran's government, and it appears we like what we're hearing.  Trump implies that forces in Iran are prepared to do business with us and achieve a sort of regime change by proxy, as we did in Venezuela (?).  That could be an ambiguous result to the present conflict, as indeed our achievement in Venezuela was and is, but it could also be a way out of the current impasse.  We've always known that we need the cooperation of elements of Iran's security forces and bureaucracy to, well, Make Iran Great Again.  What we don't want is to be hoodwinked by mullahs in sheep's clothing...  Stay tuned!

 

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/03/23/trump_strait_of_hormuz_will_be_jointly_controlled_by_me_and_the_next_ayatollah_whoever_that_is.html 

 

In other news, Americans are growing more and more skeptical of the value of a college education, although the numbers of young people attending college are not exactly plummeting.  If you ask me, the skepticism is justified, but it's very hard to make generalizations about the value of higher ed, since every college is different, every major degree is different, and the shape of the job market is changing moment to moment.  I would say that anyone contemplating a college education should think long and hard about where, and how, and what is a reasonable price point.  Better yet, get rick quick and avoid the rat race!!!  That's the gold standard of career advice...

 

https://tippinsights.com/college-education-flunks-out-by-more-than-2-to-1-voters-say-its-not-worth-it-i-i-tipp-poll/ 

Sunday, March 22, 2026

Winding Sideways?

 


Friends, President Trump is talking about "winding down" our offensive against Iran, at the same time as U.S. forces continue to pour into the region, threats between Trump and Iran are flying freely, and the regime of the mullahs shows no signs of evaporating.  It's hard to know what the future portends, but the economic impacts of the war will only increase with time.  A number of countries have signaled their willingness to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but only under favorable conditions, whatever those might be.  I say: good luck reading all these tea leaves, but listening in to this week's Newsmakers broadcast would certainly boost your global affairs I.Q. by 100% or more!

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trump-floats-winding-down-iran-war-as-strikes-continue/ar-AA1Z6E7m 

 

https://wysl.podbean.com/e/newsmakers-3-21-26/ 

 

In other news, Elon Musk has kindly offered to pay the salaries of TSA agents, who are being stiffed by the dastardly Dems, who refuse to fund DHS.  What a nice guy!  I would take him up on it, although I suppose making those despicable Democratic lawmakers wait in long lines at the airport would be a decent interim solution, too.

 

https://x.com/elonmusk/status/2035306094281855336?s=46 

 

There's another "No Kings" day of rallies coming next Saturday, so prepare for anti-monarchists to pillage your town or city!  As you all know, I love Republicans, but I have no patience for republicans (scum, every one of them!!!).  Punctuation makes all the difference.

 

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/03/22/video-robert-de-niro-pushes-no-kings-leftists-to-take-to-the-streets-against-mentally-ill-tyrant-trump/ 

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Calculated Risk

 


Friends, let's be clear: Iran is retaliating against Israel and America's attacks mainly by striking back against...the whole world, not its battlefield foes.  What I mean is that Iran is doing its best, not just to pepper the whole region with missile and drone strikes, but also to close the Strait of Hormuz to all maritime traffic, thus dealing a body blow to the global economy.  And yet, somehow, most of the world doesn't mind at all.  In fact, it roots for Iran, just to spite the Zionists and MAGA!  Well, that's pretty dumb, but I would also like to draw your attention to an important fact: the Strait is not completely closed, and, to the extent it is, that is only because most of the world knows that, for weeks if not months, it can dispense with Gulf oil without serious consequence.  If the world was desperate for what the Middle East has to offer, after all, NATO, Japan, China, et al. would be helping us open the Strait.  I mean, it would be suicidal for them to do anything else.  The fact that they aren't tells us that all the handwringing over this "war" is mostly for show, at least at this stage.  I conclude that the Strait is only "closed" because, right now, no one minds greatly that it is.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4geg0eeyjeo 

 

Want more cogent analysis of our hostilities with Iran?  Listen in to the "Fourth Box" podcast, featuring Yours Truly as honored guest!

 

https://rumble.com/v770a3a-history-professor-nick-waddy-on-the-war-in-iran.html 

 

Finally, now that DJT has made us all rich (thanks to strong economic growth and a buoyant stock market), we can throw a bit of our filthy lucre at the upcoming Trump coin...in gold, no less!  Of course, any image of Trump has a value that's beyond price...

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwywxvgynr2o 

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Degrading the Degraded

 


Friends, today our Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, assured us that, while the Iranian theocratic regime remains "intact", it has been "largely degraded" by the furious pace of Israeli and U.S. airstrikes.  Well, I should think so!  We're aiming, of course, not merely to degrade this odious dictatorship, but to overthrow it, and in that regard we have to be disappointed at this stage of the operation.  Regime opponents haven't risen up and seized control of even a small part of the country.  I remain hopeful that they will, but we have to face the possibility, even the probability, that, when we wind down our offensive, the mullahs will still be in power.  That would stink, but we can, and probably should, look on the bright side: Iran's capacity to be a regional nuisance (and worse!) will be substantially reduced, one way or another.  Perhaps this is why Trump supporters, conservatives, and Republicans remain broadly supportive of U.S. operations against Iran.  There is much talk in the mainstream media of MAGA fissures due to Trump's "aggression", but the reality is that Democrats are much more divided over the "war", if indeed we can call it that, than Republicans are.  Many Democrats are big supporters of Israel, and enemies of Islamic fundamentalism, so it's not surprising that they might be skeptical of the doomsaying going on in the media and in elite leftist circles.  Anyway, I expect the political impact of the fighting in the Middle East to be largely transitory.  A month from now, I feel confident that the airstrikes will be over, and either we'll be dealing with a new Iranian leadership, or we'll be dealing with the tottering remains of the old one.  Either way, the world, and America, and Trump, can get back to business as usual.  Of course, what is "normalcy" these days???

 

https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2026/03/18/dni-tulsi-gabbard-iranian-regime-appears-to-be-intact-but-largely-degraded/ 

 

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/03/17/tremendously-popular-polls-maga-gop-overwhelmingly-back-trumps-iran-op-epic-fury/ 

Thursday, March 12, 2026

An Inferno of Their Own Making

 


Friends, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard is pretty excited about the fact that it was able to set fire to two oil tankers transporting Iraqi oil, but it should think twice, in my humble opinion.  First, because the only reason Iraq is striking third parties, like Iraq and the Gulf States, is because its ability to kill Americans and Israelis, and to do serious damage to our militaries and infrastructure, is basically nil.  It's striking the only targets available to it, therefore.  The other reason why Iran should be careful what it wishes for, when it launches these scattershot attacks, is that, while the Western media may celebrate every time an Iranian missile finds its target, because our brave journalists hate Trump a whole lot more than any Ayatollah, the Iraqis, and the Qataris, and the Kuwaitis, and the Saudis feel rather differently.  They're the ones with missiles raining down on their heads!  The Iranians are doing a pretty fine job, therefore, of justifying our "aggression" against them.  What's more, as long as they keep firing missiles and drones, they oblige us to continue our efforts to suppress them, meaning no rest for the mullahs!  Ergo, I would advise the Iranian hardliners to enjoy the little fires they manage to light out in the Gulf, because they will be dwarfed by the massive conflagrations that we unleash in their backyard.  Take that! 

 

https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2026/03/12/dramatic-explosions-as-iran-attacks-oil-tankers-in-persian-gulf/ 

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Saving the SAVE Act?

 


Friends, John Cornyn, who is in the fight of his life to hang on to his Senate seat, has just made a big about-face: he's decided he will accept limits on the filibuster in order to get the SAVE Act passed, which would mandate voter ID throughout the country.  Will this dramatic turn of events save the SAVE Act?  Not necessarily, because overturning the filibuster is darn tough, but maybe the Republican Senate can finesse the issue, i.e. keep the filibuster but drill a few more holes in it?  We shall see.  One thing is fairly clear: Cornyn's real objective is to save himself...from Ken Paxton, his formidable challenger.  Paxton has cannily offered to concede the primary election to Cornyn if the SAVE Act gains Senate passage.  Now, would the bill have the sweeping implications for U.S. elections that Republicans and Democrats seem to assume it would?  I mean, the GOP acts as if the bill is a magic bullet that can eliminate fraud and basically kneecap the Democratic Party.  The Dems, by contrast, talk as though the bill will make it virtually impossible for women and minorities to vote.  Voter ID has done nothing of the kind anywhere that it's been passed, but no matter.  I suspect both parties are engaging in more than a little hyperbole, but the only way to know for sure is...to pass the bill!  Why not?  It would be a fun experiment!

 

https://nypost.com/2026/03/11/opinion/sen-cornyn-why-the-save-act-matters-more-than-the-filibuster/ 

Monday, March 9, 2026

The Supreme Leader is Dead -- Long Live the Supreme Leader!

 


Friends, I'm sure we all wish nothing but the best for Iran's new "Supreme Leader", Mojtaba Khamenei!  May his reign be as glorious as it is brief.  All kidding aside, U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran's leadership and high value military sites are going great, so much so that DJT claims that our "short-term excursion" there is nearly finished, but I must say what I haven't seen are mass demonstrations against the regime, OR any cities falling to the resistance, OR major elements of the security forces defecting to the opposition and pleding their fealty to the Shah, or Trump, or any figure of equivalent marvelousness.  Long story short: the regime of the mullahs remains very much intact, and so the time for gloating has not yet come.  President Trump, please take note!

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwykdn0yn4wo 

 

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/03/09/trump-says-iran-war-is-nearly-complete/ 

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Winter is Here!

 


Friends, although lefties and elitist insiders assume that everything Trump does is motivated by greed, arrogance, or stupidity, I take the President at his word that the purpose of our strikes against Iran is to allow the Persian people to rise up and reclaim their freedom and their sovereignty from fundamentalist tyrants.  Will it work?  That's hard to say, but it's one of the main topics on this week's Newsmakers show.  Don't miss out!  Brian and I also discuss relations with Venezuela, tariff refunds, the vacuity of leftist claims that we live in a "dictatorship", the harm that illegal immigration does throughout the Americas, the upcoming Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros., and more!

 

https://wysl.podbean.com/e/newsmakers-3-7-26/ 

Thursday, March 5, 2026

ICE Barbie Goes Back in Her Box

 


Friends, today we got the disappointing news that President Trump has decided to fire Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.  I figured it was a bad sign when Trump failed to single out Noem for praise at the State of the Union.  Sometimes I hate being right all the time...  Well, why am I disappointed?  Because every retreat that Trump makes confirms in the minds of Democrats and lefties that they are winning.  Because Trump is naive if he thinks that changing personnel will mitigate the media's and the Left's utter disdain for his immigration policies.  Because Kristi Noem, although she isn't perfect, is basically a victim of her own success.  Crime has plummeted.  The border is secure.  We've deported and otherwise rid ourselves of three million illegal immigrants in one year.  By any objective measure, that's a pretty strong record for Donald Trump's DHS commandant.  But Noem's success made her a favorite target of lefties, and the fact that she's a physically attractive woman to boot -- well, that made her Public Enemy No. 1.  Okay, No. 2.  Anyway, does her firing signal a retreat from Trump's deportation strategy?  Let's hope not, because that really would be a crying shame.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2e4v7yvjx8o 

Wednesday, March 4, 2026

You Can't Please Everyone

 


Friends, good news: the U.S. Senate has declined to place limits on the authority of President Trump to use force against Iran.  Only one Republican -- Rand Paul -- voted to handcuff DJT, while only one Democrat -- John Fetterman -- voted to maintain the President's freedom of action.  Of course, none of these votes matter in practice, because any resolution requiring the President to disengage from hostilities would, we assume, be vetoed by that same president.  Still, it's significant that the Senate is willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, for now, since, according to polls, most Americans are not.  I personally take Trump at his word that there will be no extended "war" with Iran, and no U.S. occupation of Iran.  Instead, we are doing our best to facilitate a takeover of the country by secular, moderate elements, although whether such elements will emerge remains to be seen.

 

https://www.ms.now/news/trump-iran-war-powers-senate 

 

President Trump is greatly irritated by Spain's refusal to allow U.S. military forces based in that country to join in hostilities against Iran.  He has threatened, in fact, to place an embargo against all U.S. trade with Spain.  The Europeans naturally regard any such suggestion with horror, and they say that our trade deal with the EU precludes any such action.  Does it?  I dunno, but sooner or later I would advise President Trump to use his power to embargo other countries, because it would be a felicitous demonstration of his executive authority, especially in light of the Supreme Court's decision to impose burdensome restrictions on his ability to use tariffs.  An embargo, needless to say, is a heck of a lot more serious than a mere tariff, and, as long as President Trump retains the ability to embargo our adversaries, he will enjoy enormous leverage in our trade negotations with friend and foe alike.  If all he does is posture and vent, on the other hand, embargoes, or potential embargoes, will frighten no one.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93wwq1n542o 

Monday, March 2, 2026

Guns A-Blazin'!

 


Friends, U.S. and Israeli military power is making short work of the mighty Iranian Navy, pictured above back when it was afloat.  Indeed, our military operations are proving extremely successful, but it's the political piece of the puzzle that counts: the formation of an organized, viable opposition movement that can take control of the country and install a new government.  Of course, Rome wasn't built in a day...  Neither was Persepolis.

 

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/03/02/centcom-tehrans-gulf-of-oman-fleet-wiped-out-zero-ships-remain-as-u-s-hits-1250-targets/ 

 

In other news, France is extending its nuclear umbrella, ambiguously but adamantly, over several of its European allies, in a gesture that underlines, as per usual, its pusillanimity.  It's unclear what France is promising to do, or if indeed it would even have the gumption to use nukes to defend itself, and it's extra unclear why this declaration matters when ALL the relevant countries are in NATO, and thus already enjoy a total security guarantee from every NATO member state, including the United States (and France).  Of course, to be fair to the French, NATO's strength and integrity, over the years, has been buttressed by the fact that no one has ever dared challenge it.  The same could be said for France's nuclear deterrent as well.  What we know for sure is that France, and every European country, refuses to deploy even conventional military forces, in miniscule amounts, to defend the people of Ukraine, who they regard as part and parcel of "the West", even if they lack membership in the EU or NATO.  Bottom line: the Europeans' record of fighting (and dying) for their sovereignty and their freedom, at least since 1945, doesn't bear much scrutiny.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj4zlnezrl7o 

 

Finally, almost every poll, except this one, agrees that the dastardly Dems have the edge going into the midterms.  The margins matter a great deal, however.  If the Dems squeak by with a slim popular vote majority in the House, they might fail to capture the majority of seats.  If they win by 5 points or more, then even the Republican Senate could be in jeopardy.  Will Iran play a role in determining the outcome?  It's way too early to tell.

 

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/03/02/poll-republicans-surge-in-general-ballot-move-closer-to-defying-history-of-congressional-midterms/ 

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Back to the Future?

 


Friends, it appears that President Trump has decided to role the dice!  He's authorized massive, sustained strikes on Iran, with the explicit goal of overthrowing the theocratic regime there.  Will it work?  Your guess is as good as mine.  It's now up the people of Iran to step up to the plate.  I hope they will, and I hope some of their patriotic police and military leaders will help them do it.  The best case scenario might be a caretaker government led by the son of the former Shah, but honestly almost any new faces in the Iranian government are bound to be an improvement on what we've got.  Of course, that's what a lot of Iranians said back in '79 too, and look how that turned out!  There's no question that we're taking a huge risk here, but the potential upside is vast, so I'm glad Trump pulled the trigger.  You can't promise help and then offer none...

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cn5ge95q6y7t 

Of Paramount Importance

 


Friends, if there's one thing that could move the dial in America's culture wars, and its partisan struggles, it's the balance of power in the media and on social media.  If some of the big arbiters of our national conversation were to change hands -- like, say, the major TV networks, or the Hollywood studios, or Google, or Apple, or Meta -- then the nature of our culture and our politics might meaningfully shift.  A single election victory, by contrast, shifts nothing, fundamentally.  That's why Netflix's retreat from its purchase of Warner Bros. is so significant, and Paramount's victory is so portentous.  This means that the Trump-friendly Ellisons will have a seat at the table in Hollywood, and therefore in our popular culture, AND they will now be in control of CNN, which, although its viewership is small, still exercises an important influence over the news and those who consume it vocariously as well as sporadically.  I have high hopes that the Ellisons will use their newfound power to make America, well, greater than it's been, if not necessarily as great as Trump and Trump supporters had in mind.  We shouldn't get carried away about what this all means, because so far CBS, which is already part of Paramount, hasn't exactly prostrated itself before the MAGA movement.  Progress might be slow, therefore, but every little bit helps!

 

https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2026/02/27/democrat-lawmakers-booker-warren-erupt-after-paramount-wins-bid-to-buy-warner-bros-discovery/ 

 

In other news, Bill Clinton testified before a House panel today about his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.  According to him, he did nothing wrong, and he saw nothing scandalous or illegal either.  Well, that was predictable!   Is Slick Willy a credible witness?  You can decide that for yourself, but the truth is that there has never been proof that any prominent American politician went on a pedophilic spree on Epstein island, and, if the evidence hasn't materialized by now, it probably never will.  But hey, by all means, let's fixate on Epstein for another few years...  It's not like the Democrats will let us forget about it, even if we might want to.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg345qvld5o