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/

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/

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/

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/

Source: UnHerd
by B Duncan Moench

“Armageddon has been diverted, at least for another fortnight. Yet if Iran’s civilian infrastructure remains intact, the American postwar order will never recover. The damage is not primarily military, but reputational — a collapse of the legitimacy that once underwrote American leadership. In the same way that, once you say certain things to your spouse, there’s no going back, once your country goes from world policeman to the equivalent of the crazy person at the bar threatening to shoot anyone who looks at him funny, there’s really no going back.” (04/08/26)

https://archive.is/617IJ

Source: The Intercept
by Hooman Majd

“Survival of the regime alone was a victory — but its demonstration of control over the Strait of Hormuz may be a strategic game-changer.” (04/08/26)

https://theintercept.com/2026/04/08/ceasefire-iran-war-israel-us/