“War with Iran is being sold as ‘strategy,’ but it looks a lot like habit. A familiar pattern repeats: vague objectives, elastic legal theories, and a confident promise that the costs will be contained. Then the bill arrives anyway, in blood, money, and credibility. In this round, the costs are already visible in the most predictable place: energy. Fighting that threatens traffic through the Strait of Hormuz does not just ‘hurt the other side.’ It shakes a chokepoint that, in 2024, carried about 20 million barrels per day of oil, roughly 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption. Markets do not care about speeches. They price risk, and they pass it along to households and firms. Calling this ‘a small price’ is not analysis. It is marketing” (03/13/26)
“War in Iran :: religious wars/ end times :: Skeeter calls about the ‘perfect currency’ :: Sarah in NM calls about her prophetic powers :: Dave Ridley calls about censorship, check out his trailer at ridleyreport.com :: ICE buys a warehouse in SLC for $145.44 million :: Trump’s ‘strategic bitcoin reserve’ still not a thing :: Russia to open crypto exchange functions for banks :: 2026-03-14 :: Hosts: Stu, Riley.” (03/14/26)
“If you’re looking for the most elegant way to wrap up our ‘little excursion’ in Iran, it’s this: President Trump should follow what might politely be called the ‘declare victory and head for the airport’ strategy. You know the drill: Announce that we’ve set back Iran’s nuclear programs a decade, pounded their navy into submission, and turned the ayatollah into a fine mist. Mission accomplished! … Trump will have signaled to the world he (we) can’t endure any insurgent resistance, empowered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to run the country and likely angered Israel in the process. But his domestic political base will believe he won, and fan service has always been his top political priority. Besides, once you’ve entered a war without a coherent justification, clearly defined goals or a credible exit strategy, you’re lucky to get out at all.” (03/13/26)
“Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, on Saturday issued a threat to broadcasters’ licenses over ‘hoaxes and news distortions — also known as the fake news.’ Carr is the latest member of the Trump administration to weigh in on what it calls false reporting by major news organizations, including news networks, about the two-week old war in Iran. … ‘The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not. And frankly, changing course is in their own business interests since trust in legacy media has now fallen to an all time low of just 9% and are ratings disasters,’ he said.” (03/14/26)
“Accelerated by Trump’s tariffs, the EU has signed or updated trade deals with Mercosur, Indonesia, India, and Mexico. Other countries across the Anglosphere like Canada and New Zealand are inking new free trade agreements in an effort to diversify beyond the U.S. In other words, as America raises its trade barriers, the rest of the world is lowering theirs, further undermining its standing as the global economic powerhouse. Meanwhile, the US dollar — America’s enduring monetary advantage — is losing its luster as the world’s reserve currency. … While Pax Americana fades in the rearview mirror, that doesn’t mean the US can’t find its way back to the top of the world’s rules-based economic system. But it will require more than a Supreme Court ruling.” (03/13/26)
“Exiled [former] Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi said Saturday he is ready to lead Iran’s transition ‘as soon as the Islamic Republic falls.’ As the war in Iran entered its third week, Pahlavi — the son of the late [deposed] Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi — said he has been working in recent months to develop a transition plan should the Iranian regime collapse to ensure the country does not experience a disruption in governance. Pahlavi said in a social media post that ‘capable individuals’ have been identified both inside and outside Iran to lead what he called a ‘transitional system.’ … Pahlavi has lived in exile since the 1979 Islamic Revolution toppled Iran’s monarchy and established the Islamic Republic.” (03/15/26)
“The Customs Service says its computers won’t let it refund IEEPA tariffs (yet); Smartmatic claims selective prosecution; Nippon Life sues OpenAI because ChatGPT is bad lawyer.” (03/13/26)
