The Economic Destruction of Trump’s War Goes Far Beyond High Gas Prices

Source: Ludwig von Mises Institute
by Connor O’Keeffe

“[M]ost of the discourse about the economic impacts of the war has focused on the rising prices drivers are facing at the gas pump. That isn’t surprising, as gas prices are an early cost that impact consumers directly. But the emphasis on pain at the pump threatens to badly understate the economic damage of this war. And it helps feed the false impression that, if this new attempt at a ceasefire holds and the war ends somewhat quickly, gas prices will fall back down as fast as they rose, and then all the global economic turmoil the world’s been worrying about will be avoided. It won’t. A lot of economic pain has already been locked in by this war. But to really understand it, it’s necessary to keep a few important economic truths at the front of our minds.” (04/08/26)

https://mises.org/mises-wire/economic-destruction-trumps-war-goes-far-beyond-high-gas-prices

You can’t hide your lying ICE: The harassment of Francisco Longoria

Source: The Watch
by Radley Balko

“Federal immigration officers racially profiled a man, fired at his truck, raided his home at 4 am, and arrested him. Then they lied about it all — both in public and in court.” (04/08/26)

https://radleybalko.substack.com/p/you-cant-hide-your-lying-ice-th

Trust marketplace, not the government

Source: Eastern New Mexico News
by Kent McManigal

“Businesses don’t want to harm their customers. That’s no way to stay in business. When a new restaurant opens, people rush to stand in line to try it out. They don’t worry that the restaurant will poison them, and it’s not because of the licenses and permits the owners got from government. Government would love for you to believe this is what keeps you safe, but again, government works harder to protect dishonest businesses than to protect victims. If a business owner is greedy but can’t use government to force you to trade with him or her, this greed is motivation to satisfy you …. It’s only when a crooked business owner has government connections that satisfying the customer loses its importance.” (04/08/26)

https://www.easternnewmexiconews.com/story/2026/04/08/voices/opinion-trust-marketplace-not-the-government/233172.html

Iran war prods shared action on energy

Source: Christian Science Monitor
by staff

“The world has learned enough from past energy crises to know that a shortage of a finite resource like oil requires help from a more boundless resource: trust and cooperation. That’s especially true as the Iran war led to a near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz to the petroleum exports from Gulf countries. From neighborhoods to the United Nations, the closure triggered shared action worldwide to ensure ensure energy supplies. One big reason: The crisis was the largest-ever disruption in the global oil market, according to the Paris-based International Energy Agency, even more serious than the energy crises of 1973, 1979, and 2022 combined.” (04/07/26)

https://www.csmonitor.com/Editorials/the-monitors-view/2026/0407/Iran-war-prods-shared-action-on-energy

In the War on Iran, Every Word Is a War Crime

Source: Antiwar.com
by Ted Snider

“There are multiple reasons why America’s European and NATO allies have not answered Trump’s call to join the war. They were not respected. They were not consulted. The goals of the war were not articulated. The benefits were not clear while the cost was very clear. But, most importantly, they have not joined the war because it is illegal.” (04/08/26)

https://original.antiwar.com/ted_snider/2026/04/07/in-the-war-on-iran-every-word-is-a-war-crime/

Degrees of Seriousness on the National Debt

Source: Foundation for Economic Education
by Christopher Baecker

“We hit an ignominious milestone recently when the national debt crossed $39 trillion. Naturally, regular citizens have chimed in about what’s to blame, who’s at fault, what can be done, or whether it even matters. The discussion usually takes one or more of the following shapes.” (04/08/26)

https://fee.org/articles/degrees-of-seriousness-on-the-national-debt/

Viktor Orbán and His American Apologists All Deserve To Lose

Source: Reason
by Matt Welch

“Hungary, whose economy led all Central European countries out of the post-communist starting gate, now languishes in the per-capita second tier with once-devastated Romania. It is the 17th-largest economy in the 27-member European Union, despite having the 13th-largest population. Importantly, none of these numbers is obscure, even to a vice president. It’s that Vance and other American Orbánistas define prosperity differently, there and here.” (04/08/26)

https://reason.com/2026/04/08/viktor-orban-and-his-american-apologists-all-deserve-to-lose/

The Empire Backs Down, For Now

Source: Caitlin Johnstone, Rogue Journalist
by Caitlin Johnstone

“Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran after previously threatening to exterminate their ‘entire civilization,’ citing ‘a 10 point proposal from Iran’ as the reason for the climb-down. Trump and his cronies are spinning this as a colossal victory for the United States and framing Tehran’s 10-point plan as a major capitulation to the president’s threats. But some reporters are noting that Iran has had the same terms on the table for weeks — which would mean that it is in fact the White House who is backing down.” (04/08/26)

https://caitlinjohnstone.com.au/2026/04/08/the-empire-backs-down-for-now/