International security | democratic backsliding | occasional exasperation
Who would be surprised to learn that Trump's outrage over Hearn's dropped charges influences decisions he's making about Iran tonight? Pretty big problem.
Josh Marshall3/ blue. That’s not any strategy about consolidating autocratic power. It’s running in circles trying to support one of presidents weekly tantrums.
Remember when one of Trump’s biggest critiques of Obama was that the Pentagon’s “shelves were empty”? Looks like he’s gonna make it a reality on his watch.
ShipwreckPresident Trump has ordered a fresh attack on Iran aimed at getting Tehran to surrender that could begin as soon as this weekend and would last a few days, U.S. officials said.-WSJ
This is a man that would love to start a war with his countrymen. 10+ years of consistent behavior. I believe, at this point, that the only thing that stops him is fear (and I don’t see that changing).
Aaron RuparTrump: "We heard in Minnesota there was a cyberattack and they blame it on Iran. I don't think so. I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent. Iran's got bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota."
Yes. What we should look for next is the plan that the right begins to coalesce around. We knew, by fall 2020, that the 2021 autogolpe attempt would involve decertification and alternate electors. We knew because MAGA clout chasers (incl Trump) telegraphed it. No reason to believe they won’t again.
Zoomer AntimillenarianTrump absolutely does not believe there is any chance he can do badly in 2026 and will be in a blind animal panic when the results come in. Otherwise he would not be so confident in replacing Cornyn and Tillis with Republicans. We should expect a desperate, messy, improvised autogolpe.
Prioritizing loyalty over expertise and fealty over courage has deadly consequences.
ShoePresident Toddler
This is the 4th time he’s put words into the mouth of dead person to justify actions in his war. Just noting an emerging trend.
Aaron RuparTrump: "I'd like them to add Iran as tariffs, not just sanctions. That's what Lindsey wanted. I'd like to see tariffs on Iran. That's really what Lindsey wanted."
Great idea sir. Let’s review our trade deficit with Iran.
Man Shows Empty WalletALT: Man Shows Empty Walletstatic.klipy.comAaron RuparTrump: "I'd like to see tariffs on Iran"
Leonardo DiCaprio Clapping - Very GoodALT: Leonardo DiCaprio Clapping - Very Goodstatic.klipy.comMatt DarlingPolitics aside, do people believe federal government gas stations with deeply discounted prices are a good POLICY idea? What are they intended to accomplish, in your view? What problem do they solve? www.cnn.com/2026/07/09/b...
“Let’s drive tens of thousands of armed and angry military professionals underground overnight with CPA Order 1. It can only good happen”
Starfire’s Deranged Neocon Foreign Policy PodcastThe Coalition Provisional Authority is one of those things I occasionally remember existed and I feel like I am having a stroke. "Ah, yes. Time to place my large adult son Chadwick in charge of the Iraqi stock market. He got a Gentleman's C in intro to econ. He's got this."
An underrated point in this piece: the decline of Hollywood is also a decline in American soft power. The United States obtained Total Cultural Victory in the last century by creating the infrastructure people like the Ellisons are hellbent on destroying.
Alvaro M. BedoyaPeople think "Hollywood" is rich and famous. The reality? Film and TV is a national industry. It's a blue collar industry. And it is an industry free fall. My latest for @newrepublic.com on how the Paramount merger would crush blue collar workers who can not afford it newrepublic.com/article/2136...
Blumenthal provided this same “service” to the Assad regime. A test that has never once failed, in my experience.
Joe Stiebwww.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0... I knew Max Blumenthal was stupid and evil, but I didn't know he was this stupid and evil. Crazy piece.
Good. Jordan showed why this is necessary with his Jack Smith referral. They’ll manufacture a perjury referral otherwise.
Aaron RuparFauci is taking the 5th in response to each of Rand Paul's questions
Another day. Another existential threat to the regime. Oil green. 🔄 Another day. Iranians are begging for a deal. Oil red.
Aaron RuparFox correspondent: "President Trump tells Fox News about Iran, 'We are going to beat the f**king s**t out of them.' He went on to say, 'We'll be hitting them hard. They're going to get a beating.'"
Iran is focusing on Jordan in order to make the US security umbrella more trouble than it’s worth. It’s an attempt to turn the civilian population against the United States.
ShipwreckReports of multiple ballistic missiles launches from Iran this evening. As of now, it appears Jordan was the only target.
Trump and the GOP have done a fantastic job of convincing people (with major assistance from the media) that Democrats are just as corrupt as Republicans but Democratic corruption is worse because it’s done in secret (by minorities).
AdotSadR+1 on corruption is just too funny in a morbid, nothing matters, this country is on a slow trajectory to shithole kind of way
You don’t say
Ah Oui Tell MeALT: Ah Oui Tell Mestatic.klipy.comShipwreckAmerican intelligence agencies believe that Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is far more interested than his father and predecessor in pursuing a nuclear weapon, according to officials briefed on the assessments.
We can skip all these landmine-ridden steps because currently, with McConnell in medical purgatory, Republicans are down a vote!
Keith EdwardsBeshear declines to call a special election, and instead appoints a Democrat directly, citing the Kentucky Constitution's provision. Republicans sue. He wins → Democrat holds the seat. He loses → the seat sits empty for months while it's in court. Either way, Republicans are down a vote.
When the Make-a-Wish presidency stops being fun… and starts getting real
ShipwreckThe war has taken a personal toll on the president and some of his senior advisers. Some top aides have been advised by intelligence agencies that the Iranians are seeking to kill them and have been told to stop taking car services, according to people familiar with the matter.-WSJ
Even this dense unforgivable mf can see where the wind is blowing
The Guardian‘I got carried away’: Elon Musk expresses regret about Doge and wading into Trump’s orbit